Escape the Crowds Plan: Spend a Day as a Living Painting in Lishui Ancient Street

**Basic Information** * **Exact Location**: Yantou Ancient Village, Yantou Town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, within the Nanxi River Scenic Area. * **Street Features**: The ancient street was built on a water-retaining embankment during the Ming Jiajing period (around 1556), stretching over 300 meters with more than 90 shops, forming a winding corridor. Most buildings are two-story wooden structures, with eaves covering the corridor for shade and rain shelter. Red lanterns hang under the corridor, creating a charming scene alongside ancient trees and Lishui Lake. * **Core Attractions**: Include **Lishui Ancient Bridge** (Yongqing Bridge), **Jieguan Pavilion**, **Chengfeng Pavilion**, as well as the rustic shops and bluestone-paved road along the street. **One-Day Tour Core Itinerary** **Morning: Immerse Yourself in the Ancient Street and Enjoy the Morning Tranquility** * **Arrival and Tour**: It is recommended to arrive in the morning when there are fewer tourists, allowing you to better experience the tranquility and authentic local life of the ancient street. Lishui Ancient Street, built in the Ming Dynasty, is a corridor-style street over 300 meters long with more than 90 shops. The architecture is rustic, with red lanterns complementing the ancient trees and Lishui Lake. Main highlights include **Lishui Ancient Bridge (Yongqing Bridge)**, **Jieguan Pavilion**, **Chengfeng Pavilion**, and the lakeside corridor scenery. * **Ticket Tips**: Official opening hours are usually 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with an entrance fee of 15 RMB. However, some information suggests that **entry may be free before opening (e.g., before 9 AM) and after 5 PM**. If you plan to arrive early, you can try to enter for free; if visiting during paid hours, purchasing a ticket helps support site maintenance. **Noon: Taste Authentic Yongjia Flavors** * **Dining in the Ancient Street**: You can have lunch within the ancient street or in Yantou Town. Must-try dishes include **Yongjia Wheat Cake**, as well as stir-fried beef, tofu skin, Wenzhou-style seafood, and other local specialties. * **Special Dining Option**: If time allows and you are driving, a highly recommended choice is to drive to the nearby **“Ling Shang Ren Jia”** to enjoy crispy yet tender, non-greasy **roast whole lamb** and specialty farmhouse dishes in a beautiful setting facing the mountain and creek. **Afternoon: Combine Nearby Attractions for a Richer Experience (Choose One)** Considering that touring the ancient street takes about 1-4 hours, you can flexibly choose one of the following plans in the afternoon to make a fulfilling day trip: 1. **Plan A (Ancient Village and Nature): Furong Ancient Village + In-depth Tour of Lishui Ancient Street** * Furong Ancient Village (free) is about a 10-minute walk from Lishui Ancient Street. The village features rustic buildings, and in autumn, persimmon trees laden with fruit create a stunning scene with white walls and black tiles. After visiting, return to Lishui Ancient Street to relax in a café or tea house and enjoy a leisurely afternoon. 2. **Plan B (Mountain and Water Wonders): Lishui Ancient Street + Shiwey Rock** * After touring Lishui Ancient Street in the morning, head to the Shiwey Rock Scenic Area, known as the “Southern Zhejiang Tianzhu,” to admire its spectacular peaks and steep gorges. This plan is more suitable for self-driving visitors due to the distance between the two sites. **Evening to Night: Capture Light and Shadow, Enjoy the Night View** * It is recommended to return to Lishui Ancient Street before sunset. The golden hour with slanting sunlight is perfect for photography. * After dark, the red lanterns under the corridor light up, reflecting in Lishui Lake, creating a particularly enchanting night scene. Lishui Ancient Street is also a popular nighttime spot in Wenzhou. You can stroll leisurely and experience a different charm from the daytime. **Opening Hours and Tickets** * **Opening Hours**: * May 1 - September 30: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM * October 1 - April 30 (next year): 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM * **Ticket Price**: **15 RMB per person**. Some guides mention that **entry may sometimes be free after 5:00 PM and before opening hours**, but this is unofficial information for your reference. * **Recommended Visit Duration**: 1-2 hours. If you want to take photos slowly and soak in the atmosphere, plan for 2-4 hours. **Main Highlights and Travel Tips** 1. **Stroll the Corridor and Feel the Water Town Charm**: The ancient street is built along Lishui Lake, winding with the water. It is recommended to enter from the south gate of the village wall, passing Chengfeng Pavilion and Jieguan Pavilion in sequence, walking the 300-meter corridor to experience the feeling that “if you don’t visit Lishui Street in Yantou, you haven’t truly been to Nanxi River.” 2. **Check-in Landmark Buildings**: * **Lishui Ancient Bridge**: A three-arch stone bridge built in the 37th year of the Ming Jiajing reign (1558), rustic and beautiful. * **Jieguan Pavilion**: An ancient pavilion built in the Ming Dynasty, exquisitely structured, symbolizing aspirations for success in imperial examinations. 3. **Experience Slow Life and Night Scenery**: In the early morning, you can feel the leisurely life of local residents. At **night**, the red lanterns light up and reflect in the water, creating a unique atmosphere. The street is a well-known nighttime hotspot in Wenzhou, with many artistic shops, cafés, and small bars where you can sit and relax. 4. **Combine Nearby Attractions for Touring**: Lishui Ancient Street is often combined with other Nanxi River attractions. * **Half-day/One-day Routes**: You can arrange a route including **Furong Ancient Village** (free), **Lishui Ancient Street**, **Taogong Cave**, and the **Fish Release Pond** in front (where you can feed koi). * **Two-day Route**: On the first day, visit Lishui Ancient Street, have lunch at nearby **“Ling Shang Ren Jia”** to enjoy specialty roast whole lamb, then visit **Shiwey Rock** in the afternoon; on the second day, go to the **Yaxiaku** Scenic Area to experience the cliffside plank road. **Food Recommendations** You can taste authentic Wenzhou and Yongjia flavors in and around the ancient street: * **Yongjia Wheat Cake**: A local specialty snack with a crispy crust and delicious filling. * **Nanxi River Flavors**: Braised creek fish, stir-fried vegetarian noodles, golden powder dumplings, creek snails, and more. * **Specialty Main Dishes**: Visit “Ling Shang Ren Jia” to try the crispy yet tender **roast whole lamb**, or try local yellow cattle bones. **Transportation Guide** * **Self-driving**: Navigate to “Lishui Street, Yantou Ancient Village, Yantou Town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou City.” The scenic area has parking. * **Public Transport**: Take the high-speed train to **Wenzhou South Station**, then taxi or rent a car to Yantou Town, about 1-1.5 hours by car. There are also several bus stations in Wenzhou city with buses to Yongjia or Yantou. **Practical Tips** 1. **Best Seasons**: **Spring and autumn** have the most suitable climate. In autumn (November-December), the Nanxi River area also offers persimmon and drying autumn scenery to enjoy. 2. **Dress Suggestions**: The ancient street roads are cobblestone or stone slabs, so comfortable flat shoes are recommended. 3. **Ticket Discounts**: Watch for official information; sometimes you can get discounts on Nanxi River scenic area tickets with a Wenzhou arrival flight ticket within a specified time. In summary, Lishui Ancient Street is a delicate ancient corridor combining history, architecture, and local life atmosphere, making it an excellent first stop to experience the pastoral scenery and ancient village culture of Nanxi River.